This thread made me go back and watch the Exorcist again (I do own the special edition DVD.. so not like I had to go far) and it made me realize how much I really love this film, everything about it is damn near perfect....the acting is beyond top notch, the lighting and cinematography are second to none, the story/script are fantastic (in both senses of the word) but the pace is what may be the best thing about the film... very slow (today's audience would NEVER stand for a film that is so slow in developing), plus the fact that it is obvious that it was NOT made to be a horror film!!! And it really isn't one, despite being called the scariest film ever made, and I do find it quite disturbing (not "scary").. but not for the same reason most do....as a non-Christian "demonic possession" never scared me, but...the mental anguish of Father Karras and his pain, and guilt (over not only not being able to care for his mother, but for the losing of his own faith) are truly disturbing to watch... a great character study, and made the ending truly gratifying (and most people never get the ending....they think the devil wins and kills Karrass...that's not how I see it at all.... Karrass wins, and restores his faith and caring in the process.. in my humble opinion anyway)..of course the Exorcist 3 kind of ruins that take for me.. but it was a fun little horror film on it's own (yes, Exorcist 3 was just a horror film...and Exorcist 2... well best not to mention that one... or those damn "prequels")
Anyway... I'll stop boring you all now, just wanted to share that...and for those of you that haven't seen it in years, or ever, I suggest you give it a view.. it really is a masterpiece of cinema!!

Steadmund Brand

__________________
"The truth is what is, and what should be is a fantasy. A terrible, terrible lie that someone gave to the people long ago."- Lenny Bruce

I sometimes walk by the house which now has a fairly high fence in front of it but the famous steps are still there.

c.d.

And the film is geographically correct about the location, too. That staircase was indeed only a few feet from the house, so that a person could actually fall from a window down to it, just as depicted in the film. But I believe the house has since been renovated, and a large portion closest to the staircase has been removed.

This thread made me go back and watch the Exorcist again (I do own the special edition DVD.. so not like I had to go far) and it made me realize how much I really love this film, everything about it is damn near perfect....the acting is beyond top notch, the lighting and cinematography are second to none, the story/script are fantastic (in both senses of the word) but the pace is what may be the best thing about the film... very slow (today's audience would NEVER stand for a film that is so slow in developing), plus the fact that it is obvious that it was NOT made to be a horror film!!! And it really isn't one, despite being called the scariest film ever made, and I do find it quite disturbing (not "scary").. but not for the same reason most do....as a non-Christian "demonic possession" never scared me, but...the mental anguish of Father Karras and his pain, and guilt (over not only not being able to care for his mother, but for the losing of his own faith) are truly disturbing to watch... a great character study, and made the ending truly gratifying (and most people never get the ending....they think the devil wins and kills Karrass...that's not how I see it at all.... Karrass wins, and restores his faith and caring in the process.. in my humble opinion anyway)..of course the Exorcist 3 kind of ruins that take for me.. but it was a fun little horror film on it's own (yes, Exorcist 3 was just a horror film...and Exorcist 2... well best not to mention that one... or those damn "prequels")
Anyway... I'll stop boring you all now, just wanted to share that...and for those of you that haven't seen it in years, or ever, I suggest you give it a view.. it really is a masterpiece of cinema!!

Steadmund Brand

I love the movie as well, and have also read the original novel. While the movie is pretty clear that a genuine possession is taking place, the novel still maintains the possibility that both the girl and the Jesuit priest have mental issues. In the book, Regan's imaginary friend "Captain Howdy" implies that she may heve "daddy issues" since her father is named Howard. Also, a book about witchcraft is found under Regan's pillow (the book had been given to her mother by a party guest), suggesting that she may have read it and used that knowledge in acting out certain occultist rituals. During the supposed exorcism, while the movie is pretty clear that the devil transfers himself to the priest's body, the book still suggests the possibility the guilt-stricken priest simply suffers a mental breakdown. Also not adequately explained in the movie is that why the Jesuit priest, who has been so skeptical of the alleged possession, should have a change of heart and agree to perform an exorcism. The book explains this. Although he doesn't believe a possession has occurred, he believes the ritual of exorcism would actually serve some form of psychiatric treatment which no known scientific method can do.

I've seen an interesting television program about this case. From the article at the above link, under "Literature and Film":

"This exorcism case inspired the 1971 novel The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty, which in turn was adapted into the classic 1973 horror film of the same name.[11] The case also inspired the 2000 movie Possessed, which is said to be closer to the story in Allen's book.[11] A documentary was also made of the case, titled In the Grip of Evil.[12] Another documentary movie was made in 2010 named "The Haunted Boy: The Secret Diary of the Exorcist" where a group of investigators travels to the location in question and uncovers the diary that is said to be kept by William S. Bowdern.[13]"